New Audiobooks Publishing in Fall 2014

Market strength for audio reflected in the wealth of new titles for fall

By Shannon Maughan
|

May 30, 2014

Audio publishers are putting their stamp on a bumper crop of titles this season and we’ve gathered together some of our favorite highlights from their forthcoming lists. New authors and new series abound, especially in fiction, for adults as well as teens and younger listeners. Fresh editions of classics make a strong showing as well with appearances by Homer, Shakespeare, and du Maurier in the mix. The dystopian fantasy trend has slowed a bit in the children’s and YA categories, but there are still sparks of magic sprinkled amongst the contemporary and historical fiction titles and romantic thrillers.

Audio sales in general continue to be robust, posting as 8% increase overall, year-to-date, according to BookScan. This position of strength is reflected in the variety of subjects and the range of formats available to listeners. We hope you’ll find some titles of interest here to take on the road, to the gym, or even the hammock. Happy listening!

Adultery by Paul Coelho. A woman with a picture perfect marriage and family life finds new passion when she reconnects with her high school boyfriend, now a successful politician. (Random House Audio, Aug.)

Marvel: Astonishing X-Men: Gifted by Peter David, read by a full cast. This adaptation features the X-men team re-formed by Cyclops and Emma Frost designed to astonish the world. (Graphic Audio, Aug.)

The Story of Land and Sea by Kay Simpson Smith. A small coastal town in North Carolina at the end of the American Revolution is the setting for this debut novel about three generations of a family. (HarperAudio, Aug.)

Hamlet; Macbeth; A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Othello; Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, dramatized by a full cast. Five titles mark the launch of a new line of audiobooks produced in partnership with the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C. (Simon & Schuster Audio, Aug.)

This Is How I’d Love You by Hazel Woods, read by Amy Landon. This story of an independent young woman fighting to keep her love alive as WWII rages on was inspired by real letters that the author’s grandparents exchanged during the War. (Tantor Audio, Aug.)

The Good Girl by Mary Kubica. What seems like a one-night stand turns into a twisted kidnapping drama for a judge’s daughter in this debut thriller. (Blackstone Audio, Aug.)

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier is the inaugural recording under a new agreement to publish the author’s entire backlist on audio. (Hachette Audio, Aug.)

One Kick by Chelsea Cain launches a series featuring Kick Lannigan, whose complicated early life and unique skill set put her in good stead to assist in solving a crime. (Simon & Schuster Audio, Aug.)

Driving with the Top Down by Beth Harbison, read by Orlagh Cassidy. An antiquing/thrift shopping road trip to Florida turns on a dime when three women are tangled in a crime. (Macmillan Audio, Aug.)

One of Us by Tawni O’Dell, read by Nick Podehl and Amy McFadden. In this literary thriller, a serial killer terrorizes the hometown of a forensic psychologist. (Brilliance Audio, Aug.)

We Are Not Ourselves by Matthew Thornton, is a debut novel featuring the trials of several generations of an Irish-American family. (Simon & Schuster Audio, Aug.)

The Iliad/The Odyssey by Homer, trans. by Robert Fitzgerald, read by Dan Stevens. Fitzgerald’s award-winning modern translation of these works gets a new sound. (Macmillan Audio, Aug.)

The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan follows the life of an Australian surgeon from his time in a Japanese POW camp on the Thai-Burma Death Railway in 1943 to contemporary Australia. (Blackstone Audio, Aug.)

Virtue Falls by Christina Dodd, read by Rebecca Soler. Suspense reigns in this novel about a woman who discovers the truth about her mother’s decades-old murder, and the killer who is still at large. (Macmillan Audio, Sept.)

Goodhouse by Peyton Marshall. Marshall’s first novel is a dystopian story where the sons of convicted felons who have certain genetic traits must live on “goodhouse” campuses designed to reform them. (Brilliance Audio, Sept.)

The Dog by Joseph O’Neill. A young man flees a bad breakup in New York to take a job as the “family officer” for a wealthy clan in Dubai. (Random House Audio, Sept.)

The Hound of the Baskervilles, adapted by David Pichette and R. Hamilton Wright, performed by Simon Helberg, James Marsters, and Julian Sands. This recording of a live performance offers a fresh take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic. (L.A. Theatre Works, Sept.)

Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good by Jan Karon is a much-anticipated return to the goings-on in Karon’s beloved village of Mitford. (Penguin Audio, Sept.)

Mage’s Blood by David Hair, read by Nick Podehl begins the Moontide Quartet series of fantasy novels. (Brilliance Audio, Sept.)

An Italian Wife by Ann Hood. This multigenerational tale begins in turn-of-the-century Italy and follows a family through its disparate trials in America. (Blackstone Audio, Sept.)

The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell. After a fight with her mother, 15-year-old Holly runs away and her psychic energy attracts attention from a group of dangerous mystics. (Recorded Books, Sept.)

The Children Act by Ian McEwan. An accomplished family court judge in London struggles with her own crumbling marriage and flailing home life. (Recorded Books, Sept.)

A Sudden Light by Garth Stein. Fourteen-year-old Trevor tries to help repair his parents’ marriage and in the process discovers secrets lurking in the seemingly haunted mansion owned by his family. (Simon & Schuster Audio, Sept.)

The Future of Curious People by Gregory Sherl, read by Heather Corrigan and Justin Torres. This first novel from poet Sherl takes place in a world where an “envisionist” can tell you whether your partner is your soulmate. (HighBridge Audio, Sept.)

The Zone of Interest by Martin Amis is a love story set in a concentration camp. (Recorded Books, Sept.)

Neverhome by Laird Hunt. A woman disguises herself as a man to fight in the Civil War in this first-person novel. (Hachette Audio, Sept.)

Maplecroft: Book 1 in the Borden Dispatches by Cherie Priest. This new dark fantasy series stars famous ax-wielder Lizzie Borden. (Tantor Audio, Sept.)

Full Measure by Jefferson T. Parker, read by Marc Thompson. In this standalone novel by the thriller writer, a young man returns from Afghanistan and has to deal with saving his family’s home and rescuing his dangerous wayward brother. (Macmillan Audio, Oct.)

Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult features a daughter who consults an old journal, a psychic, and a P.I. to search for her mother who disappeared years earlier following a tragic accident. (Random House Audio, Oct.)

Cemetery Girl: Book One: The Pretenders by Charlaine Harris and Christopher Golden, read by a full cast. In this adaptation of a graphic novel, Calexia has no memory of who she is or how she got to the cemetery where she now lives in a crypt and avoids human contact. (Graphic Audio, Oct., download only)

Prince Lestat by Anne Rice, is a mystery-thriller that signals a new twist in Rice’s vampire mythology. (Random House Audio, Oct.)

A Vision of Fire by Gillian Anderson and Jeff Rovin. Teenagers around the world begin speaking in tongues and having violent visions in this first sci-fi title from TV star Anderson. (Simon & Schuster Audio, Oct.)

The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain, read by Susan Bennett. Riley discovers that the sister she thought committed suicide years ago is alive and living under a new identity. (Macmillan Audio, Oct.)

Beautiful You by Chuck Palahniuk. Mega billionaire C. Linus Maxwell woos beautiful, successful women that he uses as test subjects for his new line of potent, irresistible sex toys. (Recorded Books, Oct.)

Ruth’s Journey by Donald McCaig, is an approved prequel to Gone with the Wind featuring the life of supporting character Mammy. (Simon & Schuster Audio, Oct.)

The Remedy for Love by Bill Roorbach. Two strangers stranded together in a cabin ride out an epic Maine snow storm cut off from the outside world. (HighBridge Audio, Oct.)

The Killer Next Door by Alex Marwood. One of the six secret-harboring residents of the dodgy building at 23 Beulah Road is a killer. (Tantor Audio, Oct.)

Hello from the Gillespies by Monica McInerney. Angela Gillespie decides to switch gears and tell the unvarnished truth in her annual letter to family and friends. (Bolinda Audio, Nov.)

The Forgers by Bradford Morrow is a “bibliomysery” involving signature forgers, a rare book dealer and a murder. (HighBridge Audio, Nov.)

Citizens Creek by Lalita Tademy. Cow Tom, born a slave in Alabama, buys his freedom by serving as a translator in the American Indian Wars, a legacy that still inspires his granddaughter as she leads the family. (Brilliance Audio, Nov.)

Us by David Nicholls, follows one man’s efforts to save his marriage and reconnect with his teenage son during a European trip. (HarperAudio, Nov.)

Descent by Tim Johnston. Johnston’s debut tale stars a brother and sister who embark on a mountain adventure during a family vacation. But one sibling descends the mountain injured in a hit-and-run, and the other has disappeared. (HighBridge Audio, Jan.)

Simplicity & Sophistication: Short Stories of Wisdom and Kindness from Around the World by James W. Jackson, read by the author offers global observations from the founder of Project C.U.R.E. (Brook Forest Voices, Aug.)

Eager to Love: The Alternative Way of Francis Assisi by Richard Rohr, read by John Quigley. A fresh look at this saint’s approach to the ways of holiness. (Franciscan Media, Aug.)

Never Turn Your Back on an Angus Cow: My Life as a Country Vet by Dr. Jan Pol with David Fisher. Anecdotes from Pol’s four decades as a veterinarian in rural Michigan. (Tantor Audio, Aug.)

The Virgin Way: Everything I Know about Leadership by Richard Branson provides advice from the free-spirited, passionate founder of the Virgin Group of companies. (Blackstone Audio, Sept.)

How Google Works by Eric Schmidt and Jonathan Rosenberg. Two of the company’s senior executives offer tips on such topics as how to hire, manage, motivate, and grow a business. (Hachette Audio, Sept.)

Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham, read by the author. Actress, writer and producer Dunham’s series of essays on growing up. (Random House Audio, Sept.)

Death of a King by Tavis Smiley and David Ritz is a chronicle of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life during the 12 months leading up to his assassination. (Hachette Audio, Sept.)

The Human Age: The World Shaped by Us by Diane Ackerman offers insight on the new reality that the human race is now the most dominant force of change on Earth. (Recorded Books, Sept.)

This Changes Everything by Naomi Klein posits that climate change is an urgent signal to fix our economic and political systems. (Simon & Schuster Audio, Sept.)

Scandals of Classic Hollywood by Anne Helen Petersen. Petersen expands her juicy dish on the stars featured in her theHairpin.com column to book form. (Tantor Audio, Sept.)

A Deadly Wandering by Matt Richtel. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Richtel used the story looks at the impact of technology on our lives via the story of a college student who killed two scientists while driving and texting. (HarperAudio, Sept.)

The News Sorority by Sheila Weller profiles Diane Sawyer, Katie Couric, and Christiane Amanpour and their triumphs and challenges as they rose through the ranks of TV news. (Penguin Audio, Sept.)

Row for Freedom by Julia Immonen tells the story of the author’s record-breaking row across the Atlantic to draw attention to human trafficking and come to terms with her own past. (Thomas Nelson on Brilliance Audio, Sept.)

Jesus on Trial by David Limbaugh. Limbaugh makes a case for the gospels as hard evidence of the life and work of Jesus Christ. (Brilliance Audio, Sept.)

Naked and Marooned by Ed Stafford is the author’s account of his mission to survive—with no clothing or supplies—for 60 days on an uninhabited island in the South Pacific. (Tantor Audio, Sept.)

Off the Sidelines by Kirsten Gillibrand, read by the author. The New York Senator delivers an inspirational memoir and call-to-action for women to make a difference in their communities by becoming politically active. (Random House Audio, Sept.)

Tennessee Williams by John Lahr, Read by Elizabeth Ashley. Ashley, who has appeared in 14 of Williams’s plays brings a familiarity to her narration of this biography. (Brilliance Audio, Sept.)

Being Mortal by Atul Gawande, read by Robert Petkoff. Practicing surgeon Gawande explores examples of how to provide quality of life for patients nearing the end of life. (Macmillan Audio, Oct.)

The Innovators by Walter Isaacson traces the invention of the computer and the internet via profiles of such creators and entrepreneurs as Ada Lovelace, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Tim Berners-Lee. (Simon & Schuster Audio, Oct.)

The Bassoon King by Rainn Wilson. The actor reflects on his “geeky” childhood and eventual comfort zone in his career and adult life. (Penguin Audio, Oct.)

Herbie Hancock: Possibilities by Herbie Hancock with Lisa Dickey. The jazz musician and composer shares his musical influences and anecdotes from his life and career. (Penguin Audio, Oct.)

Billy Joel by Fred Schruers is a biography of the iconic musician based on interviews that Joel had originally intended for his memoir. (Random House Audio, Oct.)

The Birds of Pandemonium: Life Among the Exotic and the Endangered by Michele Raffin, read by Tamara Marston, introduces examples of conservationism and includes audio of birds featured in the text. (HighBridge Audio, Oct.)

The Leonard Bernstein Letters by Nigel Simeone. Hachette Audio’s v-p and publisher Anthony Goff acquired audio rights to this collection of the legendary musician, composer and conductor’s letters from Yale University Press upon hearing about it, believing that “it lent itself so beautifully to audio” and was “a perfect fit for the format.” (Hachette Audio, Oct.)

Deep Down Dark by Héctor Tobar, read by Henry Leyva, is the exclusive official story of the 33 Chilean miners rescued from the mine near Copiapó, Chile following a 2010 accident. (Macmillan Audio, Oct.)

Worthy Fights by Leon Panetta with Jim Newton, read by Panetta. The memoir from the former defense secretary and CIA director who led the intelligence war that resulted in Bin Laden’s killing. (Penguin Audio, Oct.)

The Great Reformer by Austen Ivereigh, read by the author is a biography of revolutionary thinker Pope Francis. (Macmillan Audio, Oct.)

Meet Paris Oyster: A Love Affair with the Perfect Food by Mireille Guiliano takes listeners to Paris’s most famous oyster bar and beyond, offering insight and information from oystermen and chefs about the best ways to buy, prepare, and savor this shellfish. (Blackstone Audio, Nov.)

So Anyway…by John Cleese is a memoir from the British actor and cofounder of the comedy troupe Monty Python. (Random House Audio, Nov.)

The Wild Truth: The Untold Story of Sibling Survival by Carine McCandless. The trusted sister of Chris McCandless, made famous by the Jon Krakauer book and subsequent film Into the Wild tells her own story, putting to rest some questions. (HarperAudio, Nov.)

Vanishing Grace by Philip Yancey is an exploration of what may have contributed to hostility toward Christians, especially Evangelicals. (Zondervan on Brilliance Audio, Nov.)

The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer. The musician and blogger expands her popular TED talk about asking for what one needs in art, business and life. (Hachette Audio, Nov.)

Brief Encounters by Dick Cavett, read by Jimmy Fallon. The talk show host and interviewer reminisces about Hollywood legends as well as everyday life. (Macmillan Audio, Nov.)

You Can’t Make this Up by Al Michaels with L. Jon Wertheim, read by Michaels. The accomplished sports broadcaster offers insights from his more-than-40-year career in this memoir. (HarperAudio, Nov.)

The Universal Tone: My Life by Carlos Santana. The iconic guitarist—whose work is instantly recognizable from just one note—reflects on his poor and difficult childhood in Mexico and his rise through the rock world. (Hachette Audio, Nov.)

The Badger Knight by Kathryn Erskine. Sickly, albino Adrian makes an epic journey through Medieval Scotland and England to find his friend and help defend his country. (Recorded Books, Aug.)

Frostborn by Lou Anders, read by Fabio Tassone is the first title in a Vikings-inspired fantasy series. (Listening Library, Aug.)

As Red as Blood by Salla Simukka, read by Amy McFadden begins a thriller series starring 17-year-old Lumiki, who discovers a stash of blood-stained money in the dark room at her school. (Brilliance Audio, Aug.)

Positive by Paige Rawl, read by the author is a memoir from a 19-year-old who has been HIV+ since birth. (HarperAudio, Aug., download only)

Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor by Jon Sciezska, read by the author, marks the kick-off a new middle-grade series inspired by real science and the classic Tom Swift novels. (Listening Library, Aug.)

Courage for Beginners by Karen Harrington. Mental illness, friendship and family are themes in this coming-of-age story. (Hachette Audio, Aug., download only)

Leroy Ninker Saddles Up by Kate DiCamillo. Fresh and familiar characters blend in this spinoff from the Mercy Watson series starring an aspiring cowboy. (Listening Library, Aug.)

The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone: A Novel by Adele Griffin. This fictional spin on celebrity biography features teen star Addison Stone’s friends, family, mentors, and more dishing on her. And when she dies mysteriously, no one escapes scrutiny. (Blackstone Audio, Aug.)

The Island of Excess Love by Francesca Lia Block, read by Julia Whelan. This companion to Love in the Time of Global Warming is inspired by Virgil’s Aeneid. (Brilliance Audio, Aug.)

The Iron Trial by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare marks the premiere of the fantasy Magisterium in which Call tries to avoid going to the magic school about which he’s heard horrific things. (Listening Library, Sept.)

Gus & Me by Keith and Theodora Richards, read by Keith Richards. The story of how a young Keith Richards of Rolling Stones fame was introduced to music by his beloved grandfather Theordore Augustus Dupree, aka “Gus.” A CD edition will be packaged with the first print run of the hardcover book. (Hachette Audio, Sept., download only)

Nightmares! by Jason Segel and Kristin Miller, read by Segel. A group of kids must face their deepest fears in order to save their town in this first of a trilogy. (Listening Library, Sept.)

Dash by Kirby Larson. A Japanese girl is sent to an incarceration camp during WWII and is separated from her beloved dog. (Scholastic Audio, Sept., download only)

Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld. After earning a publishing contract for her first YA novel, Darcy defers college to move to New York City, where elements of her book and real life converge. (Simon & Schuster Audio, Sept.)

Ruby Redfort: Look into My Eyes by Lauren Child kicks off a series about a smart, cool, case-cracking detective. (Candlewick on Brilliance Audio, Sept.)

Falling into Place by Amy Zhang. Nonlinear flashbacks and an unexpected narrator reveal the tale of a teen girl who his clinging to life after driving her car into a tree. (HarperAudio, Sept., download only)

Eyes Wide Open by Paul Fleischman goes behind the headlines and gives teens a wake-up call and a tool kit for understanding the conflicting information about today’s big environmental issues. (Candlewick on Brilliance Audio, Sept.)

Bad Magic by Pseudonymous Bosch is the first volume in a new mystery-adventure trilogy. (Hachette Audio, Sept.)

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, performed by a full cast including Derek Jacobi, Miriam Margolyes and Emilia Fox. The Newbery-winning novel about a boy who lives in a graveyard gets a new recording. (HarperAudio, Sept.)

Evil Librarian by Michelle Knudson. Even though her friend Annie is crushing hard on the new good-looking librarian, Cynthia knows there’s something not quite right about him. (Candlewick on Brilliance Audio, Sept.)

Sway by Kat Spears. Jesse steps in to help footballer Ken win the heart of angelic Bridget in this contemporary twist on the Cyrano De Bergerac story. (Brilliance Audio, Sept.)

Caminar by Skila Brown. This novel in verse is inspired by true events during Guatemala’s civil war. (Candlewick on Brilliance Audio, Sept.)

Space Case by Stuart Gibbs. Twelve-year-old Dashiell Gibson, who lives on Moon Base Alpha, is swept into a murder mystery when the bases top scientist turns up dead. (Simon & Schuster Audio, Sept.)

If You’re Reading This by Trent Reedy, read by Ramón de Ocampo and Reedy. Through a series of posthumously mailed letters, 16-year-old Mike begins to reconnect with his father who was killed in Afghanistan eight years earlier. (Scholastic Audio, Sept., download only)

The Cure for Dreaming by Cat Winters. In 1900 Oregon, Olivia’s father hires a hypnotist to try and quell her rebellious nature and suffragist activism, but she gains psychic powers instead. (Recorded Books, Oct.)

Girl on a Wire by Gwenda Bond, read by Marisol Ramirez. High-wire walker Jules must enlist help from a member of a rival circus-performing family to solve a mystery and save her act. (Brilliance Audio, Oct.)

Black Ice by Becca Fitzgerald is a romantic thriller set in the Teton mountain range in Montana. (Simon & Schuster Audio, Oct.)

Endgame: The Calling by James Frey launches a multiplatform series that invites its audience to join 12 Players in a worldwide puzzle-based scavenger hunt for three hidden keys and a grand prize. (HarperAudio, Oct., download only)

Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin. A young girl with mental and emotional challenges, and the dog she loves, star in this story. (Brilliance Audio, Oct.)

Belzhar by Meg Wolitzer. Adult novelist Wolitzer makes her YA debut with this tale of a boarding school for “emotionally fragile and highly intelligent” teens. (Listening Library, Oct.)

The Perfectionists by Sara Shepard. Five teenage girls “jokingly” come up with a plan to kill the guy whose done all of them wrong. But when he turns up dead, the girls must find the real killer or their lives will be ruined. (HarperAudio, Oct., download only)

Famous Last Words by Kate Alender. Willa’s strange visions may be connected to a killer who is stalking Los Angeles and reenacting famous movie murder scenes. (Scholastic Audio, Oct., download only)

Todhunter Moon, Book One: Pathfinder by Angie Sage. This new fantasy spinoff takes place seven years after the end of the Septimus Heap story arc. (HarperAudio, Oct., download only)

The Rookie Bookie by L. Jon Wertheim and Tobias Moskowitz. Sports knowledge, math skills, and financial concepts are all at play in this first novel by the authors of Scorecasting. (Blackstone Audio, Oct.)

Love is the Drug by Alaya Dawn Johnson. Teenager Bird—and the top-secret scientific work of her parents—are at the heart of this thriller about a deadly flu pandemic and a government scandal. (Scholastic Audio, Oct., download only)

Glory O’Brien’s History of the Future by A.S. King. When Glory begins to see awful visions of the future fraught with civil war and the disappearance of women’s rights, she records it all, trying to ensure it won’t come to pass. (Blackstone Audio, Oct.)

Unstoppable Octobia May by Sharon G. Flake. Ten-year-old Octabia lives at her Auntie’s boarding house filled with old folks in a 1950s-set mystery about history, race, family, and maybe the supernatural. (Scholastic Audio, Oct.)

The Doubt Factory by Paolo Bacigalupi is a contemporary thriller that explores how people exploit information for money. (Listening Library, Oct.)

Guts & Glory: The American Civil War by Ben Thompson provides an overview of some of the incredible events and unlikely heroes of this conflict. (Blackstone Audio, Oct.)

The Madman at Piney Woods by Christopher Paul Curtis is a companion to Elijah of Buxton, which introduced a boy born in a Canadian settlement formed by former slaves in the mid-1800s. (Listening Library, Oct.)

Stone Cove Island by Suzanne Myers. In this debut novel, 17-year-old Eliza finds an old handwritten letter in the island’s historic lighthouse that leads her into a murder investigation. (Blackstone Audio, Nov.)

Death Date by Victoria Laurie. Maddie is reeled into a murder investigation because of her intuitive ability to see the date when someone will die in this debut thriller. (Brilliance Audio, Jan.)

X by Ilyasah Shabazz and Kekla Magoon presents the formative years of civil rights activist Malcolm X’s life and is co-written by his daughter. (Candlewick on Brilliance Audio, Jan.)

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